The tally of how much more Cochrane will face in expenses to hold its October municipal election hasn't been finalized but it's likely more than $100,000.
Revisions made to the province's Local Authorities Election due to the passing of Bill 20 in the spring will cost the town an estimated $70,000 alone to create and maintain the elector register, Jaylene Robertson, director of legislative and administrative services told town council last night (Nov. 4).
"Then we have the additional cost of staffing," she said. "With the removal of tabulator, there is an additional increased cost for enumerators and election workers to do our counting, and so as we fill out those processes, we'll have a better sense of how many we have."
A revised election bylaw to reflect the changes in the provincial act and to update best practices will be presenting to council on Nov. 12 for first reading. It needs to be in place prior to the opening of nominations on Jan. 1, 2025.
The bylaw includes specifics on the removal of voting tabulators and addition of counting centre procedures; establishment of a permanent electors register, and expansion of the use of special ballots. All are now required by the province.
While not made mandatory by the province, the town draft calls for all candidates to provide a criminal record check at their own expense within six months of filing their nomination papers. The criminal check will be made available for public consumption, as well as, for the first time, nomination papers filed.
New best practices include having the town CAO appoint the returning officer and the substitute returning officers as opposed to council making the decision.
Although the town has typically held joint elections with other election authorities, such as Rocky View Schools, it has been formalized.in the draft.
There are also changes to the conduct of scrutineers.
"Some of that is being driven by change to the scrutineer's role in the Local Authority Act where there is less for the scrutineers to do. They don't have the ability to object to electors anymore like they did, and it gives some clear guidance to anyone that has someone as part of their campaign staff, what they can and cannot do within the polling station."
Despite objections from municipalities, the province stuck to its guns and is requiring hand counts for ballots. Mayor Jeff Genung previously said that alone is estimated to cost the town an additional $40,000 to run the election and calls it a step back to the "dark ages."
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In July, Town CAO Mike Derricott told council that the election was expected to cost $125,000 and wanted to add an annual additional contribution of $25,000 to election reserve because of the heightened possibility of byelections.
While announcing regulation changes, Municipal Affairs minister Ric McIver said the provincial government will not be providing any financial assistance to implement the changes, stating municipalities have covered the cost of their elections for the last 100 years and will continue to do so.
He said some consideration will be given to municipalities who had contracts in place for electronic tabulators prior to the announced changes.